Battery.



C. F. BURGESS & C. HAMBUBGHEN. A

BATTERY.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 13, 1910.

LOSQQQ.

Patented July 16, 1912.

ueber? (`J1IAlR.L1ElS ZF. BURGESS AND CARL HAMBUECHEN, 0F MADISON,WISCONSIN.

BATTERY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 16, 1912.

Applcationled July 13, 1910. Serial No. 571,691.

To all whom *it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES F. BURGEss and CARL HAMBUECHEN, bothcitizens of the United States, residing at Madison, 11i the county ofDane, State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Batteries, of which the following is a specification.

The subject` of the present application is a battery of the general typeordinarily designated as a dry cell. y

The novel features reside particularly inl the special construction andcooperative relation of many of the component parts of the cell wherebyhigh efficiency and durabilitv are attained.

The details of the invention are pointed out with particularity in theappended claims,.for a better understanding of which, reference may behad to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying dra-wings.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional elevationof the battery. Fig. 2is a fragmentary perspective view showing the painted top ofthe zinccontainer. Figs. 3 and 4 are details of the metal cap used on one end ofthe carbon electrode of the cell.

In the construction shown, .the positive 0r Zinc .electrode comprises asheet of zinc rolled into a tube or cylinder l, and having a solderedseam 2 running lengthwise. After this tube has been soldered, it isdipped in hot asphaltum paint. so that one end of the tube is coatedwith asphaltum both outside and inside, fora distance of neaily an inchfrom the end of the tube. This paint serves to prevent local corrosionIof the zinc. The 'tube is then provided with a bottom 3, pressed intothe shape of a cup and soldered in place. The terminal, or

' binding post L tfor the zinc electrode is solkdered in place at thetop end of the side seam. l/Ve have found that by putting the terminalat this particular point, the zinc cup is materially strengthened, andfurthermore, the presence, initially, of some solder under the asphaltpaint at this point facilitates the soldering operation. The asphalt onthe outside of the can serves as a iux dui'- ing the solderingoperation. The bottoni of the zinc cup is covered with a disk 5 oftar-paper. This paper is semi-soluble in the zinc chlorid forming partof the battery mixture and changes to a gummy mass capable of flowingdownv and filling `any cracks or flaws in the soldered joint beneath.The sides of the cup are lined with a Very porous paper cylinder orwrapping 6, havinffits lower end folded inward at? 7 to overlap the edgeof the tarred paper disk. A porous paper bottom 8 covers the inturnededges of the paper tube 6.

The negative or carbon electrode of the cell comprises a cylindricalcarbon rod 9 provided at lits top with a brass cap 10, through whichcurrent may be conducted from the electrode. electrodes, the carbon rodsare soaked for about a minute in hot paraffin, before they brass capsare put in place. The entire electrode is immersed in the paraffin sothat it. is impregnated throughout its entire length with amoisture-resistant material. This not only prevents the creeping ofelectrolyte upward to thenietal terminal, but it also excludessubstantially all moisture from the rod when the cell is assembled,thereby avoiding the difiiculties incident to the use of rods whichmight from day to day vary in their moisture absorbing power. Also, byhaving the electrode uniformly impregnated, there is no danger ofputting the metal terminal on an unimpregnated end. The brass cap 10 iscoated with parati-in both inside and outside by dipping, and then isput on the carbon rod with a driving fit. This layer of para'lin on thebrass cap protects the cap from incipient corrosion while the activemixture is being tamped into In constructing these place within thecell. In order to avoid the l brass cap is provided with a singleindenta-A tion' 11 which forms on the inside of t'he cap a sort ofshoulder capable of yielding sufiiciently to allow. the cap to bepressed on the rod. This shoulder collapses as the cap is forced onthehrod, but is resistant enough to insure intimate contact between thecap and rod, even though the rod is slightly below normal size. Theindentation is made with a tool having a face so beveled that theshoulder presents an inclined surface, and will slip over the end of,the carbon rod without tearing or chipping the carbon.

In assembling the cell, the carbon rod is supported inv its' normalposition with respect to the zinc cup, and a moist and active mixtureand lto a level slightly below the upper edge 13 of the paper lining.This sand and sawdust forms a moisturefabsorbing medium capable oftaking -up water when the active mi'xture is too damp and giving upmoisture as the active mixture needs it. The absorbing medium thusserves as a sort of regulator to govern the wetness of the active.material This porous layer is in intimate contact with the activematerial.` This arrangement facilitates theeasy passage of water fromone to the other.'

'The cell is sealed by a layer-of pitch 14 poured in until it fills thecell to the top of the zinc cup. This pitch is in direct con- Y tactwith the sand and sawdust, and forms a sort of Vdouble seal at the upperedge of the paper lining, excluding substantially all air andprotectingthe upper edge of the zinc cup from corrosion. The lining ofasphalt paint initially provided on the zinc cup assists in securingintimate contact between the pitch and the zinc, and coperates with thepitch in limiting local corrosion. The layer Vof parain on the metalcapv 10 facilitates the making `of a good seal about the cap. p,

v Having described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a primary battery, a zinc container having a soldered seam an'd aterminal for said container soldered in place at said seam.

2.' In a primary battery, a zinc electrode serviceable as a containerand havingV an ,end portion paintedy insideand out with asphaltum paint,said electrode having a soldered seam anda terminal soldered to saidelectrode at said seam'.

3. In a primary battery, a zinc electrode serviceable as' a. containerand having a soldered seam, and tar-paper over said seam.

4. In a primary battery, a zinc container4 having a bottom soldered inplace, a tarpaper disk over said bottom, and a porous pap'er lining forsaid container, said lining having its upper edge trimmed to liedirectly in contact with said container.

5. In a primary battery, a zinc container having a bottom soldered inplace, a tarpaper disk over said bottom, a porous paper lining for saidcontainer, said lining having its upper edge trimmed to lie directly incontact with said container and having its lower edge folded inward tooverlap the edgeof said tarred paper disk, and a porous paper bottomcovering the inturned edge of said porous lining. I

6. In a primary battery, the combination ofa cylindrical zinc container,-an asphaltum coating around the top of said container, a tubular paperlining for said containerv having its top edge trimmedto lie in contactwith the coated top of said container and having its lower edge crimpedinward at the bottom of said container, a porous paper bottom coveringthe inturned edge of said tubular lining, an active mixture in saidcontainer, a layer `of porous inert material above said mixture and.below the top of said paper lining and a pitch seal at the top of saidcontainer where it iscoated with asphaltum, said pitch seal contactingdirectly with the upper trimmed edge of said lining and also contactingwith said layer of porous inert material.

7 The combination of a container, a solid carbon rod therein whichv has'been impregnated throughout its entire length with a moisture-repellingmedium, a thin metal cap inclosing onevv of the impregnated ends of saidrod, a moisture-resisting .coating on said cap, a moist active mixturein contacty with said rod, and al pitch seal enveloping said coated capand closing the end of said container.

8. In a primary-battery, the combination of a cylindrical -zinccontainer having a bot'- tom soldered in place, an asphaltum coatingaround the top of said container, atar-paper disk placed above'saidbottom, a tubular paper lining for lsaid container having its top edgetrimmed to lie in contact with the coated top of said container andhaving its lower edge contacting with said tar-paper disk, an activemixture in said container, a layer of porous inert material above saidmlxture and below the top of said paper lining, a carbon rod impregnatedthroughout its length with paraffin and contacting with said activemixture, a thin sheet metal cap pressed into place on the upper endv ofsaid rod, a moisture-repelling coating on said cap, and a pitch seal atthe top of said container where the zinc is coated with asphaltum, saidpitch seal contacting directly with the upper trimmed edge of saidAlining and also contacting w'ith said layer of porous inert material.

9'. In' a primary battery, the combination of a cylindrical zinccontainer, an asphaltum coating around the top of said container, atubular paper lining for said container having its top edge 'trimmed tolie in contact with the coated top ofsaid container and having its loweredge folded inwardly, a porous paper bottom covering the inturnod edgeof said porous lining, an active'mixture in said container, a layer ofporous inert material above said mixture and below'the AIii) top of saidpaper lining', a carbon rod impregnated throughout its lengthwith'paraiifin and contacting with said act-ive mixture, a thinimperforate sheet metal cap pressed into place onthe upper impregnated`end of said rod, and a pitch seal at the top of said container WhereAthe zinc is coated With asphaltum, said pitch seal contacting -directlywith the upper trimmed-edge of said lining and` also contacting withsaid layer of porous inertmaterial.

10. In-a primary battery, the combination of a zinc electrode adapted toserve as a containernand having a soldered side seam with upper edgelying in contact with said con ltainer, an active mixture packed in saidcontainer Within sald lining, a layer of porous material above saidmixture and contacting directly therewith, the top of said porous layerbeing below the upper edge of said porous paper lining, a carbon rodcontacting with said active mixture, said rod having a metal cap tightlyengaging its upper end, and a layer of pitch forming a seal l"about`said metal cap and about the upper edge of said paper lining.

In Witness whereof, We have hereunto set our hands this 7th day 0f July,A. D. 1919.

CHARLES F. BURGESS. CARL HAMBUECHEN.

Witnesses: l JOHN B. SANBORN,

CHAUNOEY E. BLAKE.

